Truth or Consequences

John 4:23-24

Years ago there was a show on TV called Truth or Consequences. I do not remember how it was done. However, it give me a good title for this sermon.

There is a lot of religion out there today, but I fear not much truth. Churches are dropping the name Baptist and in some cases that is good, for they have ceased to be Baptist is practice and doctrine. However, there are, from what I am told, many strong Baptist churches that are turning away from the truth and falling by the way side. We are a nation in turmoil because we have left the principles of God and we are seeing the consequences. Good churches are having trouble finding good, sound pastors. Let’s look at some things God has said to us about the truth in His Word.

I. THE LORD JESUS CHRIST CAME FORTH FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:14)

1. He was God in human flesh.
   

   “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:5-11)

2. He not only was full of truth, His was, is and always will be the truth.
   

   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.    (John 14:6)

3. Not only is He the truth, but also the Bible is truth.
   

   Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)

4. The Lord Jesus Christ is the living Word and the Bible is the written Word.

II. GRACE AND TRUTH COMES TO US THROUGH THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)

1. Salvation comes to us by the grace of God.
   

   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

2. The message of the truth brings us to salvation.
   

    Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. (John 17:17)So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

III. THE ANOINTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL TEACH US THE TRUTH.

But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (I John 2:27)

1. Every child of God has the Holy Spirit dwelling in them.
   

   What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s. (I Corinthians 6:19-20)For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:14-18)

2. The Holy Spirit will guide us to the truth if we will allow Him to.
   

   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  (John 14:26)

IV. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS IN TRUTH.

For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:9)

1. When the Holy Spirit dwells in us He will produce fruit.
   

   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

2. That fruit will be genuine, not fake

V. WE ARE TO LOVE IN TRUTH.

My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth. (I John 3:18)

1. Our love for one another as children of God should be genuine.
   

   And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (I John 3:19-24)

2. Love for God should not be a pretense.
   

   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

VI. WE MUST BE SINCERE IN TRUTH.

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.  (I Corinthians 5:8)

1. For years there have been those who say, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.”
2. I have been sincerely wrong, haven’t you.
3. Our sincerity must be based in the truth.
   

   And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;  Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

4. We must know the truth.
   

   Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

VII. WE MUST WORSHIP HIM IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23-24)

1. There are many who claim to be worshiping God in Spirit, but they are not worshipping Him in truth, therefore, their worship is unacceptable.
   

   For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (II Corinthians 11:13-15)

2. We are to try the spirits to see if they of God or not.
   

   Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (I John 4:1-3)

3. We are to worship God at church for it is the place of truth.
   

   Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)

   But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. (I Timothy 3:15)

VIII. THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT WALKING IN TRUTH IS CHASTISEMENT.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? (Hebrews 12:5-7)

1. A child of God cannot live as he please without consequences.
2. Sometimes sickness is a consequence of sin.
   

   Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:13-16)

3. Sometimes death is a consequence of sin.
   

   For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (I Corinthians 11:29-30)

4. Sometimes the weather is a consequence of sin.
   

   For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up. (Hosea 8:7)

5. Sometimes government is a consequence of sin.
   

   This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men. (Daniel 4:17)

IX. THE CONSEQUENCE OF NOT BELIEVING THE TRUTH.

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)

1.  Hell is the eternal destiny of those who do not believe the truth.
   

   Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:41, 46)

2. Jesus Christ is the true and only way to heaven.
   

   Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)

3. Without Him you cannot go to heaven.
   

   Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12)